Howling Stones - how much traffic?

[Nephazz]

I'm thinking of moving to HS after I hit 54 (currently 53 in KC). Before I do the key quest though, how much traffic is there at the basement? Will I be reasonably able to solo most of the time, or are the camps very contested?

[nordbear]

I'm thinking of moving to HS after I hit 54 (currently 53 in KC). Before I do the key quest though, how much traffic is there at the basement? Will I be reasonably able to solo most of the time, or are the camps very contested?

What class are you? I have been soloing the basement quite a bit on my now lvl 54 enchanter and it has been really good exp wise. I can usually clear out the main room and one of the tunnels before repop solo. I haven’t had any troubles finding a spot, unless there is a group down there no one can really clear the whole thing (I think)

[Nephazz]

What class are you?

Necro.

I just wanted to find out if it makes sense for me to go through the trouble of getting a key if I will not really be able to put it to use. Seems like I should try it, though.

[nordbear]

Necro.

I just wanted to find out if it makes sense for me to go through the trouble of getting a key if I will not really be able to put it to use. Seems like I should try it, though.

I would do it at least. I got the fang while exping in kaesora but it shouldn’t take very long do as long as no one is camping it. HS will be good up to 60 and even after that so see it as an investment :)

[thebutthat]

Yes get your key. It's the best xp in the game for a necro. If basement is camped, sometimes the basement wings are not. Also move up to north if it's open, it's also very doable at 54. Later on, 57 or so learn west...and at 60 south is a decent money option for necros.

[Para99]

The key is ridiculously easy to get. For the Xalgoz piece there is a pretty high chance someone will be camping him and let you loot a rotting fang. Even if it's not camped he always drops at least 1 fang so worst case it takes like a half hour. For the prod, the last 4 or 5 times I've tried to get a prod for an alt/friend that sarnak has been sitting up, guess that could be luck but it's not like he's perma-camped these days.

Sometimes HS can be really busy (which is like 10 people in the zone) for days on end and sometimes you can be the only person in the zone for hours. Like butthat said a lot of times the person camping the basement isn't concerned about the wings on the side of the basement. HS is the best xp an enchanter/necro will get though.

[loramin]

If basement is camped, sometimes the basement wings are not.

When I was leveling Loramin I could only hold down the main room, so I was always fine with someone taking a wing (or both). I would imagine any other Shaman would feel the same, as long as you're polite about it.

I do remember basement being a pretty popular camp, but at the same time I was able to get it fairly often. A lot of the time even if it was taken, if I waited a bit people would be done with the camp and hand it off to me.

[Nephazz]

Made my way to Kaesora yesterday, picking up the key today.

Thanks for the input.

[Tecmos Deception]

Most folks don't venture into the basement wings, in my experience; they just clear the main room and then pull the first little room on each wing if they need more. Don't be afraid to venture into the hallways of the wings as a chanter. Even if you don't need to do so to find stuff to kill, it's good practice to fight in those smaller spaces and get a feel for the respawns in the zone without the safe spot to sit at.

If you get comfortable in the basement, you are already high enough level to handle north as well. Better xp (mobs are level like 43-46 instead of all <45, and there are a few named guys you can actually get a bit of loot or spell drops off of), a safe spot, larger hallways than basement, enough mobs to keep you busy without even pulling the rooms until you're comfortable breaking them, etc.

[Izmael]

HS is so much fun on a necro.

I'm almost envious of you since you're about to start learning it from scratch. Invest in a few EE's, always good to have them in this zone.

[Baylan295]

HS is so much fun on a necro.

I'm almost envious of you since you're about to start learning it from scratch. Invest in a few EE's, always good to have them in this zone.

And some coffins. People will be asking for summons and will tip well for them. My usual payment was a stack or two of peridots if I didn’t have the plat on me.

[Hibbs]

I'm thinking of moving to HS after I hit 54 (currently 53 in KC). Before I do the key quest though, how much traffic is there at the basement? Will I be reasonably able to solo most of the time, or are the camps very contested?

You ever make it to HS?? I would also add if Entrance, Basement, and North are camped sometimes the person in north will let you sit in boss's room (can be dangerous break). Once you get West and South key its usual pretty certain you can pop in and get XP whenever.

[thebutthat]

Once you get West and South key its usual pretty certain you can pop in and get XP whenever.

Pick up a few stalking probes and you'll never need any of the keys again.

[Hibbs]

Pick up a few stalking probes and you'll never need any of the keys again.

Hey Butthat!

I love advice like this, but some of these tricks I'm not up on. I looked them up and not much in way of information. Its just an eye of zomm basically? Any class/race can use it out of inventory? how does it open up doors?

Thanks much
Zquils

[Crede]

Hey Butthat!

I love advice like this, but some of these tricks I'm not up on. I looked them up and not much in way of information. Its just an eye of zomm basically? Any class/race can use it out of inventory? how does it open up doors?

Thanks much
Zquils

Watch some of tecmos’s Hs videos. He would do it. Something with the probe and clicking off illusion to poof through the door.

[Hibbs]

Watch some of tecmos’s Hs videos. He would do it. Something with the probe and clicking off illusion to poof through the door.


oooh thanks for reply!... but that seems rather lame. Ill go for keys :p

Appreciate the insight though!

[Nephazz]

I did make it to HS, and what an experience it was. I was on edge the entire time. Someone there took the time to show me around the basement, but I decided to stick to the entrance for a while (taking North and South golems was a good rhythm for me). Died only once so far, and of course it was because of a feaster. A cleric happened to be sitting in the basement and he helped me out (thanks Nitelife).

Being in that zone feels like someone cast Heart Flutter on you in real life.

Edit: Oh yes, I probably would not go in there without Aegolism anymore haha. It helped me be a bit more calm.

[Baylan295]

oooh thanks for reply!... but that seems rather lame. Ill go for keys :p

Appreciate the insight though!

Keys are far superior to probes, but probes are great if you want to skip North or West ok your way to the next wing.

[Hibbs]

I did make it to HS, and what an experience it was. I was on edge the entire time. Someone there took the time to show me around the basement, but I decided to stick to the entrance for a while (taking North and South golems was a good rhythm for me). Died only once so far, and of course it was because of a feaster. A cleric happened to be sitting in the basement and he helped me out (thanks Nitelife).

Being in that zone feels like someone cast Heart Flutter on you in real life.

Edit: Oh yes, I probably would not go in there without Aegolism anymore haha. It helped me be a bit more calm.

Oh cool Neph! Atleast you took the plunge and went in. The entrance can be kinda meh imo because a lot of stuff up there is living (no fun for you amirite?) and/or has no mana so I can't ToT them (no fun for me amirite??). If you are ever in when I am (usually mornings EST) it would be fun to group. Could show you not a lot, but alittle that I know.

Also is you want ez street until you get the hang of it maybe find a shaman or a cleric. Being able to just hold one pet and rock stuff makes getting to know the zone a lot easier. Usually if my cleric buddy is with me I throw -MR items, Torch, and a Ghoulbane, with a snek click and watch him just plow through mobs. Its pretty entertaining!

[Tecmos Deception]

oooh thanks for reply!... but that seems rather lame. Ill go for keys :p

Appreciate the insight though!

It's a bug/quirky old mechanic that became a feature over the years, just like corpsing no-rent keys to keep them around. For the daring, you can also beat down level 51+ stuff on the back side of a door you want to get through to get yourself summoned to the other side!